System of electrical distribution.



No. 677,375. Patent ed July 2, IQOI.

E. W.-RICE, In.

I SYSTEM OF ELECTRICALDISTRIBUTION.

Application filed Mny 24, 19004 Jnventor. EdwinW. Ricedrr,

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE,

EDWIN \V. RICE, JR., OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTlON.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,325, dated July 2, 190i.

Application filed May 24,1900. Serial No. 17,781. (No man To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. RICE J r., a

citizen of the United States, residing at Schenments whereby the apparatus for producing constant current may be cheapened in construction and improved in efficiency. The apparatus which I have thus devised for use in this relation I may term a constant-current compensator, since it includes relatively movable coils in shunt relation to the primary circuit and a shunt connection to the translating devices or consumption-circuit.

Another feature of my invention consists in the combination of a plurality of constantcurrent transforming devices with a circuit carrying rectified current derived from these transforming devices. I

The details and mode of operation of my invention will be set forth more at length in the followin g description, which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, while the points of novelty of the same will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, 1 2 indicate constant-potenti'al mains supplied with alternating current of any suitable frequency. Fed from these mains are two constant-current compensators devised by me, one of the compensators being indicated at 3 and. the other at 4:. Each compensator consists of relatively movable coils 5 6, arranged in the same manner as the coils of the ordinary constant-current transformer or reactive coil and situated in the same manner in inductive relation to a suitable core of subdivided magnetic material 7. The coils 5 Gare connected in series with each other,'and

in the arrangement shown one of the coils 6 is fixed with respect to its core,while the other is partially counterbalanced by means of a connection with a pivoted lever 8, from one end of whichis suspended a counterbalancing-Weight 9. x

The constant-current circuit of one of the compensators is indicated by the leads 10, which may be shunted about a number of turns of the coils 5 6, either greater or less than the number included between the connections of the primary leads 11. In this instance,tl1e compensatorbeingof the step-down variety, the leads 10 of the consumption-circuit are shunted about a single coil 6, while the primary or supply circuit is connected across both of the coils 5 and 6. By thus arranging the supply-circuit and consumptioncircuit it will be seen that a portion of the winding of the compensator will be common to both circuits. Since the currents in the supply-circuit and consumption-circuit flow through this portion of the winding in op-' posite directions, the resultant current is equal to their difference, by reason of which the compensator affords a cheap and efiicient means for changing a constant-potential current into a constant current having any desired miximum electromotive force either greater or less than that of the supplycircuit. The leads 10 in this instance are shown as extending through a rectifying apparatus consisting of a rectifying-commutator 12 and collector-rings 13, mounted upon a shaft driven synchronously with the rate of alternations-as, for example, by means of a synchronous motor or other suitable de vice. (Not shown.) The leads 14 are in a similar manner connected to the constantcurrent compensator 4 and transmit current to anotherrectifying apparatus 15, consisting, as before, of a suitably-driven shaft car rying collector-rings 16 and a rectifying-commutator 17.

In the arrangement shown the rectifyingapplied to a single-phase alternating-current system, it will be understood that, its usei's not limited to this relation only, but may be used in connection with multiphase systems as well. 'Moreover, although I have indicated in the drawing a constant-currentcompensator producing an electromotive force onthe constant-current circuit of smallermaximum value than on the primary or impressed 1 circuit, it will be understood that it is quite within my invention to constructaconstantcurrent compensator having the opposite re- 5 lation ofelectromotive forces, this arrange.-':

ment having been already alluded tov above.

era-s75 What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a plurality of constant-current circuits, a rectifier in each circuit, and a circuit including said rectifiers in 1 series. i 2/. The combination of a plurality of con- 2stantrcuarren ticircuits, arectifier in each circuit and a series circuit including translating devices arranged alternately with said rectiflers. 3'. A plurality of constant-current com-. gpeusators and a single circuit fed with rectifiedcurrent derived from said compensators. I In witness. whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of May, 1900 i EDWIN WLRIGE, JR. Witnesses:

BENJAM-m B, HULL,

' MABEL H. EMERSON. 

